Portable bathtub



Nov.\17, 1953 .w C. WSTFAHL 2,659,090

PORTABLE BATHTUB Filed Nov. 24, 195o Patented Nov. 17, 1953 UNITED STATE s PATENT). OFFICE -PoR'rABLE BA'rn'rUB `Williamv c. westfahl, olin, Iowa,

Application November 24, *1950,r Serial No. 197,435 i This invention relates to bath tubs, and more particularly to a portable bath tub for use by invalids or other incapacitated persons for taking a bath in a sitting position.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved portable bath tub which may be employed by a patient who has undergone aV surgical operation for the removal of hemorrhoids, or the like, whereby the patient may bathe in a sitting position to relieve rectal pain and to provide soothing treatment subsequent to an operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved portable bath tub for use by a patient in a sitting position, said bath tub being very simple in construction, being easy to set up, being very durable, enabling the patient to sit comfortably in the tub. and being suitable for use in a bedroom or adjacent to the patients bed in a hospital.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claim, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an improved portable bath tub constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational detail View of a corner portion of the supporting frame of the bath tub of Figure 1, showing the locking means for securing the supporting leg of the frame in a depending position.

Referring to the drawings, the bath tub is designated generally at I I and comprises a substantially square frame I2 of suitable rigid material, such as metal rod, one of the side members of the frame, designated at I3, being downwardly offset at its intermediate portion, as shown at I4, whereby the intermediate portion of the frame element I3 is generally U-shaped, for a purpose to be presently described. y Y

Designated at I5 is a sheet of Waterproof material, such as rubberized canvas, which is provided at its margins with spaced grommets I6 and which is fastened to the respective side elements of the frame I2 by leather thongs strung through the eyelets or grommets I6 and passing spirally around the side elements of the frame I2 in the manner shown in Figure 1, thereby securing the sheet to the frame Vat its margins. Connected to the center of vthegsheet :1. claim. (ci. 1 -.177)

I5 is a depending drain spout I1 provided with a conventional clamping valve I8 for opening and closing the spout I'I. Designated at I9 is an overow spout connected to the sheet I5 at a location several inches below` the level of the oilset portion I4, as viewed in Figure 2, the spout I9 being provided with a clamping valve 20 similar to the valve I 8.

Hinged to the respective corners of the frame I2 are the respective supporting legs 2|, each leg being connected to the frame I2 by a lockable hinged brace 22 of conventional construction, said brace comprising the link elements 23 and 24 pivoted respectively to the legs 2I and the frame I2 and pivotally connected at 25, as shown in Figure 4. Each link 23 is provided with a stop lug 26 which cooperates with its associated link 24 to limit relative rotation of link 24 with respect to link 23 to the aligned positions of the links shown in Figure 4, whereby the leg 2I associated with each set of lockable links is releasably secured in a depending supporting position. The legs 2| may be folded inwardly under the frame I2, as shown in dotted view in v Figure 4, by folding the links 23 and 24 inwardly,`

as further shown in dotted view in Figurefi.

As shown in Figure 1, the spirally Wound fastening thong, designated at 21, follows the contour of the offset portion I4 of the ment I3.

In using the device, the patient sits in the enclosure deiined by the sheet I5 suspended in the frame I2, said enclosure being nlled with water up to the level of the overflow spout I 9. The oilset portion I4 being of substantial width, the patient may sit with his legs extending through the space deiined by the offset portion I4 in the same manner as in a conventional armchair. Since a patient who has undergone a surgical operation involving the removal of hemorrhoids, or the like, must sit in a hot bath for long periods of time, the improved bath tub of the present frame eleinvention enables such a patient to undergo bath treatment with a substantial degree of comfort.

y lowing the water to drain from the outlet spout I1 into a suitable receptacle.

While a specic embodiment of an improved portable bath tub has been disclosed in the foref going description, it will be understood that various modifications within the vspirit of the invention `may occur to those skilled in the art. There.

fore, itis intended that no limitations be placed Q frame, whereby said legs may be folded to posti-fv tions adjacent to the respective rod memberseat@ the opposite sides of the frame, releasabl lock# l ing means arranged to releasably lee'ifffthef-lgsirr`ldepending supporting positions,1a sheetnQf-.imh ble waterproof material shaped`to iit"with`in'tlie frame and to define receptacle therein; xspaced; eyelets secured in the margins of said sheet, a 20 4 spiral flexible thong extending through said eyelets and around said rigid rod members, securing the margins of said sheet within the frame, a downwardly directed drain spout at the central 5 portion of said sheet, and an outwardly directed overow spout in a side portion of the sheet located below the olset portion of said one of the rod members.

WHJLIAM C. WESTFAI-IL.

References-i irr-Jtlreil of'thisepatent UNITED STATES PATENTS umber p x K Name Date f L22B063 Hagerty Mar. 30, 1880 302,253l Hoffman July 22, 1884 3'5'1040*V Sabin Feb. 1, 1887 -1`;2f15591f'..i:v lHerman Nov. 6, 1917 V11,653,243 Waters Dee. 20, 1927 235671514 Hoffman Sept. 11, 1951 

